Tribe.i. The Theater of‘Plants. CHAP.45. 2,73 
greater: the (hike fendeth forth, fometimes diverfe long branches from the joynts^md fometimes but onei^aT”’"' 
the toppe, at the j'oynts whereof (land two fomewhat broad and long pointed leaves, Co compaflin" the (lalkc 
about the bottome, and making it feeme as if it ranne thorough them, that they will hold the dew or raine that 
falleth upon them, the flowers that Hand at the toppes ofthe finall branches, are fomewhat larger than thofe of 
the ordinary fort, compofed of fixe or eight leaves, of a fine pale yellow colour, and fometimes deeper, after 
which come bigger heads, and fomewhat greater feede than the other: the roote is fmall and white like the for. 
mer: this is not fo bitter as the former, 
6. Centaurium mintuluteum non ramofum. Small yellow unbranched Centory. 
There is another of this kind of yellow Centory found, that differeth not in leafe or flower from the former' 
but the llalke bearing perfoliated leaves, brancheth not forth, but beateth onely one flower at the toppe which 
hath made it noted to be a different kinde from the other. 
7. Centanritun minimum luteum. The lead yellow Centory. 
The lead yellow Centory differeth not much from the laft deferibed, favingthatit is leffe in every part, and 
beateth two or three or mote fmall flowers, at the toppe of each llalke. 
I 1 The Place. 
Meft of thofe Centories are found in our owne country in matijr places, the ordinary fort almofl every where 
in fields, paflures, and woods,yet thatwith the white flower more fparingly by much than thefirll: the fpiked 
kinde groweth about LMompelier, and upon the Euganean hills neare ‘Padua : The firft yellow Centory groweth 
in many places of Kent, as in a field next unto Sir Francis Caret. his houfe, at ‘Bedington neare Croydon, and in a 
field next beyond South-fleece Church towards Cravefend', and in many other places where the other forts are 
fometimes found. 
The Time. 
They doe all flower in July or there abouts, and feede within a moncth after, 
The Names. 
It is called in Greeke Ksmweior tJ (ttrsit. Centaurum parvum t^-minus, Pliny maketh three forts, his (eittdured 
CUrmia is Dicfcoridcs his Centauriumma)m, his Centaurium is this little Centory, and his third he nameth Cett. 
tauris triorchis miflaking T heophrajlus his meaning, lib.g.cap g. where he fpeakethof that kinde of Hawke called 
in Latine Buteo a Bujfard, and in Greeke Vof^c, 0 f whom they that did gather this Centory (hould take heed to 
be hurt. Gefnemnd Dalechampius doe both note Pliny of this his errour herein: of fome Centaurea, and for 
rhe excelfive bitterndfe fel terra, and for the qualiti efebrifuga, of fome alfo Multi radix, but for what caufe I 
know not; Diofcorides faith it was called Limnefion, and Pliny Libadion, becaufe it loveth to grow inmoifl 
places: It is thought to be that herbe that Theophraflus, counted among the Panaces, and called Leptophyl/um: 
Pliny faith it was called ofthe Cattles in his time,Exacon becanfe it did purge by the belly, all other evill medicines 
out ofthe body: It is called in Italian Piondclla, bccaufe women did with the lye thereof cleare and whiten their 
hairc as Mattlnoltn faith,but Lugdunenfis faith, it doth make the haire yellow: Pauhinus calleth the third Centatt- 
riam minus fpicatttm album : Lugdunenfis calleth the fixt Centaurium lute uni alterum, and Fabitts Colnma the laft, 
Centattritim minus luteum non defcriptum,ot Centaurium luteum novum. The yellow Centory is called by tJMcfucs, 
Centaurium floribtu luteisfive citrcispallidis,and is thought by fome to be the Achylleos vera, that Pliny mentioneth 
in his 3 5. Booke and y. Chapter j and therefore Gefner in hortis calleth it Perfoliata Achyllca, The Arabians call 
it ICantarion[ages & Canturionfege or Segir, the Italians, as is before faid Biondella & Cantaurea minors’, the Spa¬ 
niards Cintoria &feldetierra ; the French Petite Centoire■ the Germans Taufent guldenkrant and Fieberkraut ; the 
Dutch Klein Santory unde Eerdegall ; and we in Engli(b fmall Centory. 
The Vertues. 
Diofcorides, Pliny, Galen, Mefucs, and the other Arabian Phyfitions with diverfe others doe all agree, 
that the lefler Centory being boyled and drunke-.purgeth chollericke andgroffc humors,and lielpeth the Sciatica- 
and yet ‘Dodoneut feemeth to averre. that it hath no purging qualitie in it,that he could finde by much experience 
thereof: which words and faying Cjemrd fetteth downe, as if himfelfe had made the experience, when as they 
are the very words oCDadonausCv. is much ufed with very goodeffeff to be given in agues, for it openeth the ob- 
ftrudfions of the liver, gall and fpleene, helping the j'aundife andeafingthe paines in the (Ides, and hardneffe of 
the fpleeneuled alfo outwardly ; making thinne both the bloud and humors, by the clenfing and bitter qualities 
thereinfit helpeth alfo thofe th at have the dropfie, or the greene fickneffe as th t Italians doe affirme, who much 
ufe it for that purpofe in pouder; it is of much ufe to be boyled in water and drunke againft agues as all know : 
it killeth the wormes in the belly found true by daily experience; it helpeth alfo to drie up rheumes as Galen 
faith, being put with other things for that purpofe: the decoffion thereofalfo (the toppes of the (hikes with the 
leaves and flowers are mod ufed) is good againft the chollicke, and to brring downe womens courfes, helpeth to 
1 avoid the dead birth, and eafeth the paines of the mother, and is very effedluall in all old paines of the j'oynts, as 
thegout, crampes, or convulfions: a dramme ofthe pouderthereof taken in wine, is a wonderfull good helpe 
againft the biting and poifon of the Adder or Viper: the j’uice ofthe herbe taken while it is greene, as is ufed in 
:i other herbes, and dried in the Sunne, or by decoftion and evaporation by the fire, as was ufed in ancient times, 
1 Worketh the fame effedls: but the diftilled water of the herbe, as it is more pleafant to betaken, foitis leffe 
j powetfull, for any the purpofes before fpoken of,bccaufe it wanteth that fubftance and bitterneffe that is in the 
a herbe : the juice thereof with a little hony put to it, is good to cleare the eyes from dimneffe,miftes, or cloudes, 
. that offend and hinderthe fighr, it is Angular goodboth for greene orfrefh wounds, and alfo for old ulcers and 
fores, toclofeup the one, and clenfe the other, and perfedlly to cure them both, although they be hollow or fiflu- 
Ions, the greene herbeefpecially being bruifed or laid too: the decoction thereof dropped into the cares, clenfeth 
them from wormes, clenfeth the foule ulcers, andfpreading fcabbes of the head, and takethaway all freckles, 
fpocs, and markes in the skinne being wafhed therewith. The yellow Centory faith UWefues worketh the fame 
i 1 effects, that the other with the red flowers doth - 
C HA T. 
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